Wheel arm joint



July 5, 1938'.-

J. w. LEIGHTON WHEEL ARM JOINT original Filed Nov. '18, 1935 ATTORNEYS.

Patent-July s, 193s I 123mg j UNITED STATE.

man ABM JolN'r John w. Laxman, rm uma; man.

Application v s `Pa"rieur ol-FICE sprung wheels nd it has particularrelation to an adjustable joi t connection-.lor varying the cast-l eringangle of the front :.Wheei. One object of the'yinvention is to provide ajoint for a front wheel of the individually sprung type which willenable adjusting the castering angle of the wheel very easily and veryaccurately. Another object of the invention is to provide a 1o joint forthis purpose in which one part oi the joint is journaled on the other bymeans oi threaded bearing elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joint of this characterbetween a wheel mounting l l5 and castering member and a link which willallow relative pivotal movement o1' the member and linkin the plane ofthe latter, and also allow relative adjustment of the link and membertransversely of said plane.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawing and from the claimshereinafter set'iorth.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had t'o thedrawing illustrating one form thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a motor vehiclehaving an individuallysprung viront wheel, illustrating a wheel mounting joint constructed 30according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view n a smaller scale taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and particularly illustrating the usualcasti ering angle found infront wheel mountings.

Fig. 4 is -a cross-sectional view/on a largerscale taken substantiallyalong the line-4 4 oi Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the frame of the vehicle is indicated at i0and for mounting each oil the front wheels on the frame in anindividually sprung manner, upper and lower link members Il and i2 areprovided which, as best shown by- Fig. 2, are oi bifurcated characterand are pivotal- `4,5 1yy connected to theiiraine at vertically, spacedpoints by means oi' pivots il and i4.

One of the iront wheels is indicated at lb and is rotatably mounted on aspindle it that may be integral with upper and lower bearing portionsi1l and i8 .that-have sleeve'bea'ring's il and 20 therey in respectivelyfor receiving a king or pivot pinl 2|.""I'he pm projectsV through:ai-portion 2'* 0f a mounting member 24 disposed between the bear- 'ingportions i1 and I8, andv athrust bearing 24 i may be disposed between:the lower sleevefrbear- `angle. 'Upper and lower ends allow verticalmovement november-51s 193s, sensi No. essais Renewef November 17, 1937 v"(Cl. 28o-ML2) f The invention relates generally to individually lng 'i8and the portion 23. The wheel may turn on the pin 2| for steeringlpurposes and. as best shown by Fig. 3, the pin 2i and mounting member24 will be tilted slightly to provide .a castering 1 l .5 of themountingmem ber 24 are pivotally connected lto the -i'ree ends of thelink members i l and, I2 so as to provide substantially a parallelogranivlinkage whichwilll of the wheel relativeto 10 the frame I0 withoutsubstantially changing the vertical plane of the wheel. The presentinvention is concerned principally with the pivotal connections betweenthe free ends of the link members I i'and i2 and the upper and lowerendsl5 of the. member 24 and particularly with anad'- justable pivotalconnection which will enable varying the castering angle or initiallyobtaining Referring now to Fig. 4, the outer and base por- 20 tion ofthe link member Il has an apertured bracket plate 21 secured thereto anda stem 28 projects through the aperture to the inner side of the bracketwhere it is threaded into a nut 29. For preventing release of the nut,the latter may 25 have openings for receiving a cotter pin IIIprojecting through an opening in the threaded portion of the stem. Atits outer end thedstem is integral with a bifurcated armv 3i having oneend provided with al threaded opening l2 and 'its thNer 30 u Va purposeto bementiojned hereinafter.. 'Then threadedy opening 32 receives athreadedjbearing 35 bushing 35 constructed of'hard'metal that a hexportion 28 f orturning the bushingaswell as limiting its inward threadedmovement. j The. l' opening 33 slidably receives a hard metal bushing l31 that has a hex head thereon and .once this 40 bushing isin"piaceri'lt-' isl prevented from turning X by a projection on the endoi the arm 3i which' extends alongone iacefof the hex head as will bereadily understood.l Both of I the bushings- 3l and I1. are internallythreaded alike iorreceiving 45, threaded end-portions 39 and 40 of ahard metal 4 pivot pin 4L and the threads are iairly\` deepV to providea more eilicient )bearing engagement be'' tween thepinland bushings."The pitch anddi relation of theexternal threads on bushing Il andv 5 0iid-,opening nare' the sameas that of the internal ythreads'[on thebushings land on the ends j ",andlfofthe pin, but are relativelyshallowthe opening, that normally will prevent turning of the bushingafter the hex head 36 engages the end of member 3i except when a wrenchis ap- 1 plied. Between the ends of the bifurcated arm 3|,

the pin 4l is enlarged and threaded as indicated at 42 and in anopposite direction, and these threads are finer and have a greaterpitch. This threaded portion ofthe pin is threaded through pin first maybe threaded and then locked thereto by means of a bolt 44.

When the parts are assembled properly, the clamping bolt 34 will tightlyhold the bushing 31 in place and prevent any slight longitudinal play onthe threaded end of the pin, and the bolt 44 will clamp'the mountingmember to the pin.

The threaded engagement of the bushing 35 with the threaded opening 32is sufiicient to hold the bushing 36 in place and prevent turningthereof in the opening. Accordingly, a very positive lock is providedfor preventing loosening of the parts of the joint while permittingrelative turning of the mounting member and pin relative to the lbushings.

The outer ends of the bushings 35 and 31 may be closed by means of Welchplugs 46 which may be apertured to receive grease'ilttings 41 and 43.The ntting 41 may be welded or otherwise secured in place while thefitting 43 is threaded into-the disc so as to permit its removal. Theouter end of the threaded portion 4l of the pin has a socket Il topermit inserting a suitable tool through the opening into which `theiitting 43 is threaded may be inserted to turn the pin,

In assembling the joint, the pin 4I may be inserted through the opening32 and threaded through the mounting member 24 until the latter isapproximately centered thereon, and then the bushing 31 may be threadedon the end' portion 43 of the pin until the hex head 33 reaches theprojection'll. I'hen the pin, member 24 andr the parts may be reverselymoved so as to move the hex head 38 past projection 39 thereby lockingthe head and bushing against turning. Then the clamping bolt 44 istightened and the bushing 3l is threaded into opening 32 and on thethreaded end 33 of the pin until its head 35 engages the end of theportion 3l. During threading Aof bushing 35 in this manner, slightlongitudinal movement of one bushing may be required to match theinternal threads of the bushing 35 with the threads on the pin, and inthis event the bushing 31 may slide in opening 33. After the bushingsare in place, the 'clamping bolt 34 is tightened. thlgeby positivelylocking the bushing 31 against D It would be practical to provideasimilar joint between the lower linkl member andthe' lower end ofthemounting member but ordinarily one adjustable connection will besuillcient to take care ofthe csstering angle of the wheel. Thisadjustable connection might be locatedat either vend but is located inthe particular instance at the upper 'end of the mountingjmember. YIfonly one adjustsble connection is provided, -it may be prefer-v abletouse the same joint in the other' connection throughout its length and toclamp the'end of the mounting member about the intermediate portion ofthe pin.

In adjusting the castering angle, the clamping bolt 44 is loosened, thenuts 28 loosened to permit stems 28 to turn and the fitting 48 isremoved. A suitable tool then is inserted into engaging relation withthe socket 50 and upon turning the tool. the pin 4l turns and owing tothe thread on the ends of the pin being opposite as compared to thethreads on the intermediate portions 42, a multiplied adjustment may beobtained by turning the pin only a small amount, and the mounting member24 may be moved lengthwise of the pin a more pronounced distance. If thepin is turned clockwise as seen in Fig. 4, it will travel upwardly inthe bushings and simultaneously the mounting member will travel upwardlyon and relative to the pin thus multiplying the movement of the mount--ing member. Owing to the greater pitch of the central thread on thepin, an even more pronounced movement of the mounting member may beobtained so' that a very slight turning of the pin may be all that 'isnecessary to secure the proper adjustment. This is advantageous not onlyin making the usually ilne adjustment required, but also in that only asmall longitudinal travel of the pin is required from which it followsthat the bearing bushings may be shorter anda smaller space may beprovided between the ends ofthe pin and the grease fitting plugs. Aftervmaking the adjustment, the fitting 43 is inserted and clamping bolt 44and nuts.23 are again tight- '.ened which causes thegbe firmly held in".relative positions, althoug'hpermitting oscillatory t member. M Under'certain 111115119111698. a multiplied movement of the-nounting'membermight not be necessary and in .this event. the threads 42 could beeliminated and the member clamped to theresulting smooth portion of thepin. order to cause the member to move with the pin or maintain itsaxial position thereon during adjustment, integral collars could beprovided on the pin at opposite sides of the mounting member or apincould extend through the mounting member and into ay circumferentialsurface groove in the pin. In either case, the pin 4| could be turnedrelative Vto the clamping member when the latter is released for making'adjustments, while moving the member therewith.

'I'he invention provides a 'simple and emcient joint connection intheindividually sprung Afront wheel mounting for ladjusting andobtaining the proper castering angle and furthermore, provides a jointwhich will allow pivotal movement of the link and mounting members andtransverse adjustment thereof while insuring that the several parts ofthe joint will'be positively held against loosening during operation ofthe vehicle. Also a joint is provided which does not require removal ofany parts except one of the grease ttings `in making adjustments,thereby simplifying the adjusting procedure. Additionally, it vbeapmovement of the linkfg-members, and mounting and when the latter-isremoved. a suitable tool` v f n parent that a multiplied movement ofthe; casterbut t0, llovido the nin withv thread bo-spparenttothoseskilledinrthe'srtithat various u' I claim: l

uaiaaoimA modifications may be made I lwithout departing from the scopeo! the appended claims.

1. -A joint for mounting 'and castering4 a vehicle wheel oi' theindividually sprung type, comprising a link member, a wheel mounting andcasterlng member, one o! said members having aperturedand spaced armportions and the other member having an apertured portion disposedtherebetween, a; pin extending through all of the apertures and havingits' opposite ends similarly threaded, thread means in the -apertures inthe arm portions for receiving the threaded ends of the pin, means onthe pin for moving the other member therewith when the pin is turned andmoved axially during adjustment, and means for releasably locking saidother member to the pin for-causing the latter to turn with said member'during operation oi the joint.

2. A joint for mounting and casteringa vehicle wheel vof theindividually sprung type, comprising a link member, a wheel mounting.and castering member, lone oi said members having apertured and spacedarm portions and the other memberhaving an apertured portion disposedtherebetween, a pinI extending through all of the aper, tures and havingits `opposite ends similarly threaded and an intermediate portionoppositely threaded with respect to the threaded ends,

thread means in'the apertures in vthe arm portions for receiving thethreaded ends of the pins,

'thread means in the aperture in the lother member i'or receiving thethreaded in ediate` portion of the pin, and means torre easably lockingsaid other member to the intermediate portion- .of the pin ior causingthelatte'r to turn with the member dining operation ot the Joint.

3. A joint i'or mounting and castel-ing a link means adapted to beconnectedto the frame of the vehicle for pivotal movement in asubstantially vertical plane. spaced and apertured arms on the free endof thelink means, a wheel mounting and castering member betweenthe armsand j having a threaded aperture, a threaded pin extendingthrough all ofthe apertures and having threaded engagement with the aperture in themounting member, andmeans in the apertures in the arms threadedlyengaging opposite ends of directed oppositely to the threads on theportionsthe pin, thethreads on that portionof'the pin threaded throughthemounting member being lc tythef pinl extending-mtu the apertures inthe ada pivotal-imaginent in a' substantially vertical -YA jointloi-mounting and castering a vehicle ptedto be connected to' the-vehicleframe for apertures in the arms, and bearing bushingsin wheel ofthe-individuallysprung type, link means adapted to be connected tothe'vehicle frame lor.

the aperturesin the arms 'and having internal threads engaging thethreadedend portions o! the pin. thethreads on the intermediate portionof the pin being directed oppositely to the threads on the end portionsof the pin.

' i 5. A Joint for mounting and centering a vehicle pivotallm'ovement ina. substantially'vertical vehicle Y wheellof the individually sprungtipe. comprising .v i plane, spaced an of the'individually sprung type,link meansplane, spaced and apertured on the tree end threaded aperture,`a pin having an enlarged and vthreaded intermediate portion threadedthrough the aperture in the mounting member, and having threaded endportions extending into the apertures in the arms, and bearing bushingsin the apertures in the arms and having internal threads' engaging thethreaded end portions-of the pin,

the threads on the intermediate portion of the pin being directedoppositely' to the threads on the end portions of the pin and having agreater pitch.

6. A joint for mounting and castering a vehicle wheel oi' theindividually sprung type, link means adapted to be connectedto the frameof the vehicle for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical piane,spaced and apertured arms on the free end of the link means, a wheelmounting and castering member between the arms and having a threadedaperture, a threaded pin extending through all of the apertures andhaving threaded engagement with the aperture inthe mountingmember, andmeans in the apertures in the arms threadedly engaging oppositefends ofthe apertures in the arms, one of which is axially slidable in theaperture in one arm and the other of which is threaded into the aperturein the other arm by threads having the, same pitch as that of theinternal threads on theffbushing, but which i 'v have a lesser depththan-:the internal threads: w

y"l. A joint for mounti "and'castering a vehicle heel: oi the.individuallysprnngttype, link means adapted to be connVViii'd`ti`a'the-vehicle frame for pivotal y movement nf a.'v,inibsia'ntiallir vertical rturefd'arms on'the'free end of the linkmeans',1a wheel mounting and. castering member between the armsandhaving athreaded aperture, a pin having an enlarged and threadedintermediate portion threaded through the aperture in the mountingmember, and having threaded end' portions extending into the aperturesin the-arms, and bearing bushings in the apertures in the arms andhaving internal threads.engag.

ingthe threaded end portions oi' the'pin, the

threads on 'the intermediate-portion of the pin-l being of 'a difierentpitch as ycompared to the threads on the end portions of the pin.

8. In combination'in` individual wheel springing, a vehicle frame, alink pivotally connected at its inner'end to the frame and having aninfternallyv threaded aperture in its outer end, a

'wheel mounting member extending adjacent the r outer end of the linkand having an internally threaded aperture substantially aligned withthe `link aperture, a pinhaving threaded portions threadably matching'and engaging the apertures respectivelxnand means releasably fasteningthe pin in onev :of suchapertures lso thatrelative Vpivotal movement ofthe link and. membercauses the pin to pivotail'y turnon the threads inone aperture while being held against turning in' thev thegthreads inthe apertures being-.0ir

other,

ferent pitch respectively so vthat whent'he releasf v lable fasteningmeans is released, turning ot the pin adjusts the relative positions ofthe link member along the pin axis;

9. In combination in individual wheel springfand esA

ing,ja vehicle trame, a link pivotally connected at its inner en d tothe' frame and having an in- !ternallythreaded aperture in its'outerend, a

wheel mounting member entendlng adjacent 'the outer end of the link andhaving an internally threaded aperture substantially aligned with thelink aperture, a pin having threaded portions threadably matching andengaging the apertures respectively, and means releasably fastening thepivotal movement of the link and member causes the pinV to'pivotallyturn on the threads in one :,iaaoaof,

'aperturewhile being held against turning in the other, the threads inthe apertures being directed oppositely respectivelyso that when thereleasabie fastening means is released. turning oi' the pin adJusts therelative positions of the link and 5 pin in one of such apertures sothat relative member along the pin axis.

.101m w. mamon.

